Nick visited me during my lunch break. He didn't rush to me immediately and started undressing me, which was weird. His look was serious.
''Hey.'' I smiled at him.
''We need to talk.'' He said.
''Nick, you know...''
''That you need more time. Yeah, you said that. But I've given you a lot of time. You used that time to fuck Darryl. So I want an answer. Now. Who will you choose?''
I was awestruck. I couldn't muster a word.
''Well?''
''I uh...''
He was looking at me.
''Nick, I love you.''
''So you keep saying, but I don't know if I believe you anymore.''
I stood silent.
''Well, I guess I'll be going,'' he said and started walking to the door.
''Nick, wait! Stay, please.''
He turned around.
''I choose you.''
He grinned, rushed to me, and ripped my blouse off.
''You know, for a second, I really thought you'd let me leave.'' He said when we were lying on the ground, in my cabinet.
''I think, for a second, I thought about it. But it was unimaginable.''
''I'm glad.'' He kissed me.
Suddenly his phone rang. He sprang up and picked it up.
''Fuck, I have to go. I'll see you later.'' He kissed me, got dressed, and left me there.
Suddenly, when he was gone, I felt the weight of what I've done.
I couldn't teach another class that day, so I asked Claire to take the rest for me.
I got in my car and drove away. I was driving for hours, just thinking. About Nick, about Darryl, about Roger. About what should I do.
I decided to clear my head and not think about it for a minute.
The minute became an hour and the hour became the rest of the day.
I slept in a motel that night.
When I woke up, I rushed to the bathroom to throw up.
Weird, I wasn't drinking last night. Maybe I'm gonna be sick. I could use that. To avoid Nick and Darryl.
I drove home and called the principal, that I wouldn't be coming to work, at least for the rest of the week.
Roger was at work. I turned my phone off and went to sleep.
When I woke up, I threw up again.
When it didn't get better the next day, I went to my doctor.
''You're absolutely okay.'' Doctor Joy said.
''But I keep throwing up. I have to be sick.'' I objected.
''On the opposite, Jennifer. You're absolutely okay. In fact, you both are.''
''Wait what? What do you mean by that?''
''You're pregnant.''
My head started spinning. I thought I was gonna faint. ''What do you mean by that? I... I can't.''
''You are. It is a reason to celebrate, Jennifer. You will welcome a child to this world.''
''I... uh. Thank you, doctor.''
Without saying anything else, I got up and walked out.
I couldn't keep my tears in and started crying before I even got to my car.
I just sat in the car outside of the house and cried.
I can't tell Roger. Or Nick. I don't even know whose baby it is.
When Roger came home, I pretended I was asleep.
I stayed at home for the rest of the week.
I ignored all calls and texts from Nick or Darryl.
Avoiding Roger was much harder since we lived together.
On Monday, I had to go to school, I tried my best to avoid Nick.
We didn't have a class together, and I didn't run into him in the hall.
When the final bell rang, I rushed out. I almost thought I made it, when I saw Darryl.
''What...''
''Am I doing here!?''
I was speechless.
''You have been ignoring me for a week! You have missed your lesson.''
''I uh...''
''You what?! Get undressed.'' He commanded.
''I... I don't want to.'' I whispered.
He ripped my blouse and pulled my chain. The pain made me go to my knees.
''Get undressed and get in the car!''
''Yes, Master,'' I mumbled.
He released me, and I got undressed.
Darryl grabbed all my clothes, and I waited, disgracefully, for him to open the door for me.
When I was in the car, he gave me the blindfold and cuffed my hands.
He didn't touch me or speak to me the whole drive.
The car stopped. He opened the door for me and helped me out.
Then he grabbed my chain and walked me somewhere.
By now, I could already tell we were going to his apartment.
''Kneel!'' He said when we entered the room.
I was kneeling on the hard wooden floor, waiting for what he would do and for my punishment.
I heard his steps getting closer.
''Stand up!'' He ordered.
He uncuffed my hands and tied them above my head.
Something tickled my back.
Bang!
A whip hit my butt.
''Count!''
He hit me again.
''One.'' I mustered through the pain.
Whip!
''Two.''
''Louder!''
Again.
''Three.''
Another.
''Four.''
And again.
''Five.''
I was breathing deeply.
''Six,'' I said when the whip hit me again.
''Seven.''
Slash!
''Eight.''
And another.
''Nine.''
My knees started shaking. I was awaiting another blow. Then it came.
''Ten.''
No more slashes came.
Darryl untied my hands, and I fell to my knees.
He undid my blindfold.
''Now, I wanna know why you ignored me.'' He said, towering over me.
''I...''
His look made me blush.